Summer 2017 Happenings

In a way that no other exhibition has done previously, Radical Women: Latin American Art, 1960–1985 will give visibility to the artistic practices of women artists working in Latin America and U.S.-born women artists of Latino heritage between 1960 and 1985 — a key period in Latin American history and in the development of contemporary art. The artists featured in Radical Women have made extraordinary contributions to the field of contemporary art, but little scholarly attention has been devoted to situating their work within the social, cultural and political contexts in which it was made. Fifteen countries and more than 100 artists will be represented in the exhibition, with 260 works in photography, video and other experimental mediums.

Ted L. Nancy is a customer in need of service. He writes to the City of Huntington Beach requesting a permit for operating his Electronic Nose Blowing Machine, invites Czechoslovakian President Václav Havel to become treasurer of Ted’s Vacuum Club, asks Nordstrom about buying a mannequin that looks like his deceased neighbor to present to the grieving widow, and more. Time after time, well-meaning representatives offer earnest replies to his letters. Based on his bestselling series of books Letters from a Nut, Mr. Nancy brings his madcap collection of correspondence to the Geffen stage for a one-of-a-kind show that is both outlandish and uproarious.

How to Make the Universe Right: The Art of the Shaman in Vietnam and Southern China

How to Make the Universe Right presents a large selection of rare religious scrolls, ceremonial clothing and ritual objects of the Sán Dìu, Tày, Yao and other populations of Vietnam and southern China. These painted, embroidered and carved works of art, most of which date to the late 19th and early 20th centuries, provide the material foundation for the regional manifestations of shamanic practice most prominently associated with Daoism.

Berlin-based artist Judith Hopf uses humor and wit to address the politics of art-making, group dynamics, and the impact of technology on perception and human experience. Through sculpture, drawing, video and performance, Hopf playfully anthropomorphizes objects such as laptop computers and ceramic vases by adding facial features, hair, arms or legs. Basketballs and suitcases might be composed of carved bricks, while pieces of rope and chain links hang and float as finished works that appear complete in their very incompleteness.

This retrospective exhibition explores the prodigious talent and influence of understudied artist Marisa Merz. It brings together five decades of Merz’s work — from her early, Arte Povera experiments with nontraditional art materials and processes; to the enigmatic heads and faces she created in the 1980s and 1990s; to mid- and late-career installations that balance intimacy with impressive scale.

A series of collaborative works by artists Oliver Payne and Keiichi Tanaami represents a world populated by Japanese idols, monsters and ancient deities set amid icons from popular Japanese “bullet hell” arcade games. In a suite of 29 collages, Payne and Tanaami merge their distinct artistic sensibilities and interests in histories of desire and consumption into a single hallucinatory fantasy.

Every Thursday in the Billy Wilder Theater, Diana Winston and other instructors from the UCLA Mindful Awareness Research Center lead a meditation session. Mindful Awareness Meditation is the moment-by-moment process of actively and openly observing one’s physical, mental and emotional experiences. Participants are welcome to drop in at the weekly sessions for as little as five minutes or to stay for the full 30 minutes.

The public is invited to the eighth floor of the UCLA Math Sciences Building to watch a planetarium show presented by current astronomy and astrophysics graduate students every Wednesday night when UCLA is in session. The show, composed of a 30-minute special topic presentation followed by a 30-minute sky show, varies by presenter, but generally covers the currently visible stars, constellations, planets and other astronomical phenomena.

For a chance to check out the Bruins in action before their Sept. 3 season opener against Texas A&M, Football Fan Appreciation Day features an open practice and post-event autographs on the newly renovated Spaulding Field. Season-ticket holders will also have access to the Luskin Center’s Centennial Terrace, which overlooks the practice field.

UCLA football is set to face off against Texas A&M on Sunday of Labor Day weekend in a match-up full of debuts. UCLA’s five-star defensive end and prize recruit Jaelan Phillips will be making his first appearance, and junior quarterback Josh Rosen will be playing for the first time since he injured his shoulder against Arizona State. On the coaching side, UCLA’s new offensive coordinator, Jedd Fisch, will be unveiling his offensive lineup. Bruins sprinkled throughout the opposition’s side of the field are sure to make the game interesting, as well. Former Bruin offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone now occupies the same role for Texas A&M, while former backup quarterback Jerry Neuheisel ’15 is now on staff at Texas A&M as a graduate assistant.

California Clásico with the UCLA Alumni San Francisco Bay Area Network

Spend an action-packed night with alumni, family and friends at the annual California Clásico, where the San Jose Earthquakes will clash with the Los Angeles Galaxy in one of Major League Soccer’s most thrilling and historic rivalries! See former Bruin Marvell Wynne — a defender with the Earthquakes — battle the Galaxy at Stanford Stadium, and then enjoy a huge fireworks show over beautiful Northern California.

The 2nd Act, a UCLA Alumni Association program, offers Bruins in their fifth decade of life and beyond opportunities to engage, learn, optimize health, volunteer and invest in themselves. Join Bruins like you for an evening with John Tarnoff, author of Boomer Reinvention: How to Create Your Dream Career Over 50. Tarnoff is a reinvention career coach who provides specific career counseling for baby boomers and late-career professionals looking to defy ageism, work beyond retirement and pivot to a new job or new business as a second-act career. While this is a free event for all second-act alumni, you must RSVP.

Jump-Start Your Career with UCLA ONE

UCLA ONE provides Opportunity, Networking and Experience to Bruins no matter where they are in their careers or where they want to go.

For young Bruins looking to begin their careers, UCLA ONE offers a running start. In a tough professional world, the online platform lets young alumni easily search for internship opportunities or request an informational interview. If you want to know more about a specific industry but can’t commit to an internship, reach out to helpful alumni and get inside information over a quick cup of coffee. Recent graduates can use the job search engine for entry-level positions that are perfectly suited to their area of study, skill set and experience level. UCLA ONE is available to students, as well.

The online platform is equally beneficial for mid-career professionals. If you are a Bruin who loves what you do but wants to take your career to the next level, UCLA ONE is a great place to find jobs where you already have a strong Bruin connection. Careers at Google, Facebook, the Los Angeles Sparks and public service have all been featured on UCLA ONE and posted by other alumni. The platform also hosts industry-based group gatherings where professional Bruins can ask for advice, discuss career strategies or network with other alumni. Groups include the UCLA Boston Alumni Group, the UCLA Spirit Squad and the Residential Life Alumni Mentor Program.

Since engagement is at the heart of the Alumni Association, UCLA ONE brings alumni together for professional and career mentorship. Bruins looking for career guidance can search the online directory for mentors by position, industry and more. Not close to Westwood? No problem. Bruin mentors are located all around the world and want to help you progress to the next phase of your career. UCLA ONE even allows alumni interested in entrepreneurial mentorship to connect with Bruin Owned Businesses. Contact an alumni entrepreneur to learn what it takes to create your own successful Bruin Owned Business.

Alumni Association board members and co-chairs of the Career Advisory Committee Eve Glatt ’92 and Derek Hu ’92 agree: “If we all connect on UCLA ONE, we can help each other grow while developing our own careers. It also lets us give back to the university as we engage through our interests, careers and Bruin spirit.”

Additionally, experienced alumni who want to give back to the Bruin community can use UCLA ONE to lend a hand to others. By using the “Willing to Help” function on the online profile, accomplished professional alumni can create connections, open doors to their companies, answer career questions and be mentors. Your profile is completely customizable and lets you curate your UCLA ONE experience. You can choose between different levels of engagement and commitment, as well as mentoring groups and industry fields. Want to help boost a Bruin career? Log on to UCLA ONE and start sharing your expertise with your Bruin family.